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The USHF was organized in 1980 to promote Hapkido and provide a forum for learning and sharing Hapkido among practitioners of all styles.

Promotion / Certificate Information

The world of martial arts is steeped in tradition. Most schools and styles have a system of acknowledging and honoring rank determined by levels of technique and seniority. One of the primary purposes of the USHF’s existence is to promote and to provide a system of Rank Requirements.

The USHF Board of Examiners has established a rank requirement curriculum for our associate schools. These are requirements that have been established as a bare minimum for rank advancement within the USHF affiliated schools.

Each school is encouraged to use these requirements as a guideline for establishing their own rank requirements. We highly encourage schools to include concepts and techniques from other systems and arts to supplement these requirements based on the needs of their respective students.

For each belt rank the student must demonstrate proficiency in the required techniques for that rank. In addition, students are required to be prepared to demonstrate any or all techniques for ALL previous ranks. The previous ranks are the foundations for the next.

If you are a USHF School, in good standing, the USHF has Kup Certificates available for purchase. To purchase USHF Kup certificates, school dues must be current and and updated roster must be on file. Kup certificates are sold in packets of 25 and cost $50 ($2 / certificate). The certificates come with traditional, official USHF chop stamps, as well as two Board of Examiners signatures. Place orders by emailing the USHF Secretary at jawatson@indiana.edu. We’ll work out the details via email after you place your order.

USHF Schools are not required to use these belt sheets but they have been provided in case you would like to use them.

Eligibility for Promotion to 2nd Dan and above, within USHF

Approval of Board of Examiners – All candidates must be approved by a vote of the Board of Examiners. The BoE will base their decision on the criteria listed below.

Time in Rank – The candidate must have been promoted to their current rank a number of years ago equal to or more than the rank desired (e.g. to be promoted to 4th dan, the candidate must have been a 3rd dan for at least 4 years)

Promotion Portfolio – Candidates must submit a portfolio detailing their personal growth, training, teaching, service, and outreach accomplishments since their last promotion. To make this process more objective, points are assigned for various activities (outlined below). To be promoted, a candidate must accumulate a number of points equal to their current rank x 4.

Current Rank

Points Needed for Promotion

Desired Rank

1

4

2

2

8

3

3

12

4

4

16

5

5

20

6

6

24

7

Below are some examples of activities that count towards promotion. If there are other activities you believe should count in your favor, feel free to contact the USHF Board of Examiners (ushfboardofexaminers@gmail.com).

Promotion Portfolios must be submitted to the Board of Examiners at least thirty (30) days before the annual Spring or Fall seminar so that members can evaluate the materials and ask questions before voting at the seminar.